The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-03-02
vol. III,
GHOSTS IN 0ID |IEGINNl.
TIE SpyNDTIHIET PLANTER Nii&
COULD NOT REST IN MS t:;: iNi..
\ Taie by Marion H,;rlHoJ. Nc: So;
Saws is Founded on .,act>.

l.
He had spent most OF the ESeem5ea
Iiav within doors. IN his brisk prone
made on the long porch he glanced.
when he passed them. into the drawing
room windows. In tie warm arcs
spread about it by the great fire II tae
chimney, he co.ld see two ara2el..iss SET
suggestively together on the rug. tie t';;e
sat in one ali tie afternoon. It's !;sncy
low placed il the othera Sigh: supple
figure il a vine-co,oreG gown w:h soft
laces at neck and wrists. Size was EEo';Es
aud blue-eyea, and lad rast-cc2oretl han
with bronzed ripples running through It:
in the check next to MIN was a dimpic
that deepenca VIXEN she laughed. He
would marry Ler in May. God willing,
by the tine the roses woai3 be in bloom
on the bare, brown sticks over there IN
the garden. His home was N Lynch
burg, fifty miles away from 3owhat&n
plantation, purchased six moths ago by
Gervas Miller, his prospective t&thsr-ln-
law, 4 long journey bv stage O. private
carriage IN this We: tAer, and over the
worst roads in Virginia.
John Speed, the ..calch o. lis native
town, and engaged to the sweetest S2r!
in the world, Yet fcuna the alE raw, t1e
situation Of Round Hill, noted I0r It's
wide outlook, bieal:. the landscape
dreary. Eliza ('sSly" 10 her family and
friends since her baoy tongue had IN
vented the pretty substitute Tor :ler
prosaic name had gcle Up stairs to
dress for supper; Mrs. Miller was busy
IN her own domain; Mr.. Miller and ms
two sons were al the county cofrt house,
it being the first Monday IL tie month
the Circuit Court vas IL session.
AS ne turned al the end Of the porch
in his twentieth rouilil-he co;1tcG them
TO pass the time-he saw rla;: coming
up the brick walk. can Cdd figure
medltated the city beau, b@t 2De who
had the bearing Of q gentleman. ! ion5
surtouLof drab cloth, open a?l0 lying
back as he strobe forward, showed 4
blue, close bodied coat trimmed with
brass buttons, ruiiieG Sh!rt SClicd ana
rumpled, a buff vest and areec;'es OF the
same color as the hat. Drawn over them
to the knee, pair OF top b1o-s stained
with red mud completed his at'ire. lie
carried riding whip in his c1,4t hand,
and the vide brim OF ms hat w:2s caught
up rakisliv en- ooe side.
"A queer fossil, even for ;he middle
counties" commented John Speed, IL L!y,
halting to awaj. nearer approach and
salutation. 'sHe might paGe come over
with Captain john Smith.
The stranger assembled the steps de-
hberately, pansea aS tie TOP anl wheelc,!
for look at the landscape, takinS of
his hat with !, gesture OF intense weacl-
ness-a deSpcndent slouch of the we'll
knit figure that was ;nexpresSibly mourn
ful. His complexion was as swarshy US
a Craole's-John Spec; took no:e OF de-
tails while he still Lesitated to advance
and accost him. Tie deep eyes shone
with red tire, the lower lip was last IL
the savage bite OF white, S1&rp teeth.
He was unShaven, laggald, d:sheveled.
His hair ard one eyebrow We're iron
gray: the other eyebrow was black as
coal, giving sinister cast to tie CORFU
gated forehead.
When be tur1ed swiftly on his heel,
and with one stride vanished at the hall
door. John Speed followed instantly.
The eccentric visitor might be pri7i-
legged neighbor, or-he reelected un-
easiIy-an escaped lunatic. In any case
it was his place to shield the ladies from
disagreeabIe surprise in the absence Of
the host and his sons.
Casting glance into the drawing
room windows as he hurried by them,
he saw the unccremonious guest throw
himself into one OF the armchairs before
the fire. The door OF the room was shut,
and as the Lynchbur9er opened 1t,
Tribe, Shy's pet spaniel, ran out be-
tween his legs, velping sl:ril!y II pain or
terror ard scampered up the staircase.
John had distinct glimpse o. the
figure crouched together N the chailS
elbows on knees and head II hands, be-
fore the dog escaped past him.
ssWhy, Triie. Here, Tritie.' he called,
reaSSurIuSIS. W L''9 - LIZ i-1-s9te-' oiN'
fellow?
As the insulted favorite flashed out Of
sight the young man pusAe1 the door
back and entered.
"Excuse me, sir'' he began laughing
ly.
Both chairs were empty. Not crea-
ture was present except himself.
II.
Shy's voice in the hail coaxing and
chiding her dog recalled him from mis-.
fitted "reminiscences Of scientific explains.
tions OF wraiths and doubles. He smiled
foolishly in perceiviug That he was
actually feeling his own Pulse. IS vel
be superstitious as hypochoadr;e;'l.
s'What have you done to Irltie:" SAID
- Shy, in her clear, girlish tones, IS he
sessi the door foG her. ''he was lotL
!; s5 town with me at a.. Y httls
While ago he scratched at NY door, arc
when lei hin. IN ran crayilg and sllak
ing all over into the darkest corner Q.
the closet. ! brought him down IN my
arms, but the moment he heard yoUJ
step he jumped 70 the floor and racet
back up stairs.
They had been separated for h&ii II
hour. Il was therefore necessary ::i;t
John should VIVID lis arm about th'
slim waist and bend his tail head 10 II,
level Of hers: then conduct her 10 III,
without withdrawing the support. :>ni
standing thus, he told her how the dos
, II = "a,